Our Community
Community Science represents a network of leading community development practitioners and scientists in the United States and Europe, with offices in Maryland, Italy and Portugal. Our staff members are knowledgeable and experienced in a wide range of methods for supporting and evaluating community initiatives. Our staff has worked with diverse populations, both geographically and culturally, including African Americans, Asian Americans, Latin Americans, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders in rural and urban environments.
In addition to our staff and a national network of collaborating consultants, we have a core group of senior consultants who are widely recognized for their commitment and comprehensive work in providing research support, technical assistance, training, and grants management support in various substantive areas, including organizational and community capacity building, community organization, health promotion, violence prevention, substance abuse prevention, intergroup relations, cultural diversity and immigrant integration. We also maintain our professional relations through involvement in several professional associations, including the American Evaluation Association, American Public Health Association, Association for Community Organization and Social Administration, National Community Building Network, and Society for Community Research Action.
MARYLAND NETWORK OFFICE
Principal Associates: 
David Chavis Ph.D., is Principal Associate/CEO of Community Science. He specializes in developing, implementing and evaluating comprehensive community and other large systems change initiatives. He is internationally recognized for his 30 years of work including a distinguished career award from the American Psychological Association and the 2002 Outstanding Evaluation Award (with K. Lee) from the American Evaluation Association (AEA). He has been a board member and officer of AEA and a founder and faculty member of the prestigious Evaluators Institute. He has conducted national and local evaluations of community change initiatives (CCI’s), community capacity building, community development efforts, and systems change initiatives. Dr. Chavis has also conducted extensive research and theory development on support systems for community development and other community systems change and prevention initiatives.
He has authored numerous articles in scientific and practitioner publications on community and systems change; collaboration, and community capacity building including the widely used “Principles for Evaluating Comprehensive Community Initiatives.” He has been the Project Director or Principal Investigator of several CCI’s and other community or systems change initiatives, including: the Drug Free Communities Support Program (ONDCP); Safe Start Demonstration Project (OJJDP); The Embedding Prevention in State Government Evaluation (National Crime Prevention Council); Making Connections evaluation strategies, initiative capacity building evaluation, and local site evaluation capacity building (Annie E. Casey Foundation); National Community Building Initiative (HUD, Local Initiative Support Corporation, and multiple nationals funders); and Community Prevention Partnership and Community Prevention Coalitions Programs (SAMHSA-CSAP). These national evaluations have ranged from 10 to 720 sites. He has also led the evaluation of several local community change and community based prevention evaluations.
He worked for several years as director of Research for the Citizens Committee for New York City (CCNYC) where he developed a research based approach to supporting the development of block and neighborhood associations that lead to the organizing and support of thousand of these groups in New York City and replicated in other cities. He also conducted one of the few experimental studies of the effects of block associations on crime prevention and reduction. Dr. Chavis has several years experience as a community organizer, director of a community development corporation, and director of Neighborhood Housing Services.
Dr. Chavis also has extensive experience implementing and providing technical assistance on the implementation of CCI’s and other community change initiatives at the national and local level. He has directed intermediary organizations that have built local capacity to implement CCI’s at the city, state and national levels. Because this additional experience, he has been an advisor on many other national CCI’s and State level CCI’s for several foundations and government agencies. Because this additional experience, he has been an advisor on many other national CCI’s and also able to successful build relations with local participants and engage them in the support of the evaluation. RESUME || EMAIL
Paul Florin, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, has been a consultant, researcher, and evaluator on community development, prevention, and community-based human service programs for over 30 years. He has directed several evaluations of state and local support systems for substance abuse prevention and coalition building. He has also assisted federal agencies and foundations in the development of technical assistance and evaluation projects. He has published extensively in scientific journals. RESUME || EMAIL
Kien Lee, Ph.D., Principal Associate, is a co-founder of Community Science and directs, manages and provides research, evaluation, and other types of technical support to national and local community change initiatives. She has directed and implemented evaluations on institutional capacity building, intergroup relations, immigrant integration and cultural competency, as well as led numerous community and organizational assessments. She has worked with community-based organizations to transform research into practical knowledge to inform their change strategies. She has presented at national conferences on evaluating and providing capacity building support to cross-cultural community efforts. She was the recipient, along with David Chavis, of the 2002 Outstanding Evaluation Award from the American Evaluation Association. She is widely published and a sought after speaker in areas including immigration integration and cross-culturally competent evaluation. RESUME || EMAIL
Ricardo Millett, Ph.D., Principal Associate, brings a formidable background to Community Science in providing program evaluation and strategic planning consultant services to foundations and non-profits. He was formerly President of The Woods Fund in Chicago, where he developed and implemented a strategic grantmaking plan for the foundation that served it well in responding to the needs of Chicago least advantaged. Prior to the Woods Fund Dr. Millett was Director of Program Evaluation for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. There, he focused on building greater communication and collaboration between evaluation and program staff to maximize the use of evaluation as an integral part of programming. Before joining the Kellogg Foundation, Dr. Millett served as senior vice president of planning and resource management for the United Way of Massachusetts Bay in Boston. There, he was responsible for planning, allocation, and distribution of organizational resources to meet the needs of greater Boston. RESUME || EMAIL
Senior Associate:
Joy Amulya, Ed.D., Senior Associate, is an evaluation, learning, and technical writing specialist with 20 years of domestic and international experience managing evaluation and capacity building projects. She is committed to systemic change in underserved communities and improvement of health, welfare, and empowerment for vulnerable children and families. Her expertise includes program monitoring and evaluation, participatory approaches, capacity building, project management, learning partnerships, and community engagement. She has worked in domestic and international settings in the areas of health, women’s development, vulnerable children, HIV/AIDS, education, immigrant and refugee support, community building, intercultural learning, technology innovation, and microfinance. Through pioneering research at the Center for Reflective Community Practice at MIT, she developed tools for learning from practice that have been widely implemented. Before joining Community Science, Dr. Amulya was President of Learning for Innovation, a consulting practice integrating learning and program evaluation in support of innovative community practice. RESUME || EMAIL
Denise L. Baer, Ph.D., Senior Associate, has been a consultant, an educator, an expert and trainer in leadership, strategic planning, institutional reform and political change, and a Program Director in educational settings. Her work blends the worlds of theory and scholarship with applied and practical accomplishments, with emphasis at the community level. She is the author of three books on political linkage and institutional and private sector reform issues related to how civil society organizes to create political parties and mobilize voluntary participation serve to build community and link followers and leaders. Dr. Baer is an expert in performance measurement and management, including at the strategy, policy, program levels. As an evaluator, Dr. Baer is an advocate of mixed methods approaches and has direct practical experience in all types of qualitative and quantitative methods techniques, including conducting national and customized surveys, focus groups, interviews, and observational research. RESUME || EMAIL
Managing Associates:
LaKeesha N. Woods, Ph.D., Managing Associate, has extensive experience providing program development, evaluation, and consultation services in clinical and community psychology. Her research has focused on cultural influences on the development and functioning of youth and families of color; and culturally congruent preventive interventions for youth placed at risk. She has provided clinical services to individuals in inpatient, outpatient, in-home, alternative school, and prison settings; and evaluation and consultation services to children and youth, family violence, and prisoner reentry programs. Dr. Woods currently serves as an evaluator on The Colorado Trust’s Equality in Health Initiative, ONDCP’s Drug-Free Communities Support Program, OJJDP’s National Safe Start Demonstration Project, and the Annie E. Casey Foundation Plain Talk Initiative. RESUME || EMAIL
Nadra Tyus, DrPH, Managing Associate, brings expertise in community and behavioral health to Community Science along with research and applied experience in community health initiative implementation. Prior to joining Community Science Dr. Tyus was Health Program Manager at the Black Women’s Health Imperative (Imperative) a national nonprofit focused on addressing health issues disproportionately affecting Black women. There, she was Project Director of a CDC-funded diabetes prevention education program and developed research, program and policy protocols for addressing health disparities among Black women and girls. At the Johns Hopkins University Urban Health Institute (UHI) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, she conducted several pilot research studies examining social and environmental factors contributing to disparate health issues. Dr. Tyus has extensive experience working with community leaders and organizations to build capacity to address health inequities. She led several of the UHI’s efforts to develop relationships with faith and community-based organizations in Baltimore to bridge the disconnect between the community and an academic medical institution. RESUME || EMAIL
Marjorie Nemes, MSc, Managing Associate, has been involved in social scientific research for seven years with a focus on health and social justice issues. She has coordinated, managed and designed studies conducted in the United States as well as abroad. She has extensive experience conducting field work among ethnic minority communities - identifying their social structure, developing relationships, recruiting, designing and administering questionnaires, interviews, and focus group. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland College Park in Psychology and a Master’s in Science in Cross-Cultural Psychology from Brunel University in London. Her academic work has focused on cross-cultural research methods and international health, integrating psychological, anthropological, and sociological perspectives as well as quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. RESUME || EMAIL
Associates:
Rebekah King, MPH, Associate, is a public health professional with significant experience in research, program evaluation, health promotion, and program support. She has knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research, program monitoring and evaluation, and program development. She is interested in monitoring and evaluation, project management, community-based participatory research, health promotion, health disparities, and HIV/AIDS prevention. RESUME || EMAIL
Vera S. Miles, MA, Associate, has more than ten years of diverse experience in the mental health field, in both clinical and analytical capacities. On the clinical side, she has conducted clinical assessments, provided crisis intervention counseling, conducted risk assessments and mental health intakes, and provided therapy to adolescents and adults. On the analysis side, she implements evaluation procedures, maintains information management systems, and provides technical support and assistance. She is experienced at collecting and analyzing data for evaluations via surveys, interviews and focus groups, ensuring quality and consistency of data. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Dowling College, NY, and holds a Master of Arts degree in Psychology from Adelphi University, NY. Her dedicated work in mental health advocacy, crisis intervention and analysis has resulted in positive life outcomes for clients. RESUME || EMAIL
Zachary Miller, MPA, brings diverse experience in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. He joins Community Science from EDJ Associates, Inc. where he worked as a contractor in the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. His prior federal experience includes projects with the Office of Inspector General at Homeland Security and the Office of Minority Health at Health and Human Services. He is a graduate of the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration at The George Washington University, where he studied nonprofit management. Formerly, Zachary worked for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay and served as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer in Alaska. He currently volunteers with Brain Food, a culinary arts program for DC youth. RESUME || EMAIL
Research Assistants:
Andrea Campos, Research Assistant, Ms. Campos draws upon her academic, professional, and life experiences in the health and human sciences as well as the multi-cultural and linguistic arenas. She has provided logistical and technical support to the Grant Review Office of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for incoming applications submitted in response to Requests for Funding Announcements. She has assisted in coordinating the grant review process by reviewing applications for grant programs to determine eligibility and conformance to government guidelines and requirements, through the utilization of survey methodologies to review, interpret, and analyze responses to program grantee questionnaires and communicated with program grantees to provide counsel and clarification of program requirements. Her focus is affecting positive global change through work and collaboration with local, national, and international communities, on projects that address current social and economic issues, especially in emerging Latin American countries, that lead to effective policy. RESUME || EMAIL
Administrative Staff:
David Levy, Chief Operating Officer, manages the organization’s financial, contract administration, human resource management, office operations and business development functions. His career in management began as the Vice-President for Finance and Programming for a Fox company-owned television station, the first Vice-President in the company to manage both departments. As the Vice-President of International Planning at the Discovery Channel, he managed the preparation of the international division's annual five-year strategic business plan coordinating the work of finance personnel in four international offices. He also was responsible for analyzing joint ventures and acquisitions. Prior to coming to Community Science, David was the Budget Director for National Public Radio in Washington, DC. He has an MBA and a M.S. in Television Administration from Boston University. EMAIL
Sylvia Mahon, Office Manager, provides project production support in the form of formatting, binding, coordination of distribution, and other assistance as necessary. She works closely with the Project Directors to maintain production schedules. She has successfully planned and coordinated national and international conferences and symposia for 13 years. She works with our corporate travel agency to ensure that travel by Community Science staff, consultants, meeting participants and others is stress free and cost effective.
RESUME || EMAIL
ITALIA NETWORK OFFICE
Martini Associati, located in Lucca, Italia. WEBSITE || EMAIL
PORTUGAL NETWORK OFFICE
Associação Portuguesa para o Estudo e Desenvolvimento Comunitário, located in Lisbon, Portugal. WEBSITE || EMAIL
